A couple of years ago, I decided to get some burgers from Sonic for my family for dinner. We are also extremely partial to their route 44 drinks. YES!!! My daughter and my wife ordered a single, but when I asked my boys what they wanted, they both responded “I want a double!”
My mind immediately went to the story of Elijah and Elisha. It’s a well known story in the Bible. Elijah, the prophet of God, had been told by the Lord to go find Elisha and mentor him to take his place. Elijah did as the Lord directed.
Elijah was about to be taken to Heaven in chariots of fire. As this miraculous moment was getting close, Elijah asked Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?” “Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied.”
““You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise, it will not”” (2 Kings 2:9-10 NIV).
The number of times I’ve heard someone say they desire a double portion, like Elisha received, is innumerable. I’ve said it myself many times. Who wouldn’t want a double portion of the spirit of Elijah? The real reason Elisha received that double portion is what I want to shed light on.
We’ve got to first of all realize the anointing or the Spirit was not Elijah’s to give. This is why Elijah told Elisha he had asked a difficult thing. It is God who gives His Spirit and anointing, not man. Therefore, it was God who would decide if Elisha would receive the double portion or not.
Elijah told Elisha if he saw him when he was taken from him, he would have his double portion. However, the secret to Elisha’s double portion was more than just being in the right place at the right time. I believe it is the same secret that puts you and me in the place to receive a greater anointing, and it’s found in 2 Kings 3:11.
Joram, king of Israel had asked Jehoshaphat, king of Judah to accompany him and the king of Edom in battle against Moab. Jehoshaphat agreed to help Joram. After a seven day journey through the desert, they ran out of water, and began to question whether the Lord was with them or not. Jehoshaphat asked if there was a prophet of the Lord they could ask. Look at the answer Jehoshaphat received, which gives us insight to why Elisha was granted his request.
“But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there no prophet of the Lord here, through whom we may inquire of the Lord?” An officer of the king of Israel answered, “Elisha son of Shaphat is here. He used to pour water on the hands of Elijah. ””
2 Kings 3:11 NIV
I believe the reason Elisha was granted his request of a double portion of Elijah’s spirit boils down to one thing. Service. He didn’t just follow Elijah everywhere he went. He served Elijah. Let me say that again. Elisha got the double portion because he served Elijah.
We live in a world where image, self promotion, and personal success is priority, and the act of service to others is often massacred by the drive to outdo others and entitlement. It’s a “take care of me first” generation. Unfortunately, this mentality has also infiltrated the church and ministry. We all want the double portion, but many want it without having to serve others first.
There are two major things wrong with this. First of all, it goes against who Jesus is. Jesus said, “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28 NIV). Our daily goal should be to become more like Christ. We cannot be like Jesus without serving others. Godly living will include serving others.
Secondly, it sets you up for failure in that you will be served in the same way you serve. It’s the spiritual principle, you reap what you sow. If you never sow seeds of great service, you will never reap a harvest of others serving you at a great level. If the act of serving others decreases, the level of anointing will decrease with every generation.
My prayer is that you would seek to serve others as Christ did. When you serve others along with growing daily in your relationship with Christ, you can expect an increase of the Spirit of God on your life. May we all live and serve with a double portion.